ACTpei

Friday, October 12, 2018

PLAYS WANTED!

Time to think about the Community Theatre Festival 2019

The PEI Community Theatre Festival will be held for 2019 on Saturday, March 30th. It’s the Island’s annual celebration of World Theatre Day.
It will be at the Carrefour in Charlottetown, filling the Saturday afternoon with a play running every ¾ of an hour or so, with a social time in-between performances.
The Community Theatre Festival is a showcase for true community theatre—a great chance for scores of actors and off-stage production volunteers to perform beyond their usual home audience, to rub shoulders with and learn from one another and get constructive feedback. Performers will be given helpful adjudication. Previous mentors have been helpful people like Wade Lynch, Monique Lafontaine, Richard Haines and Laura Bird. Participants will be presented with participation award mementoes, and there are refreshments for them, too.
The Festival has grown in popularity since its resurgence in 2010. Last year hundreds of audience-people dropped in, commonly to watch two or three of the seven performances—a fine mix of slapstick, intense drama, legend, musical, an original work in French, even some improv. Photos can be seen on ACT’s website — www.actpei.ca … click on “Gallery” (upper-right corner) and scroll down to click on the “Community Theatre Festival” sections.
Here’s what ‘Mister Theatre’ Wade Lynch has said about the Festival:
“The PEI Community Theatre Festival reminds me of why I went into theatre in the first place. It is an inclusive, nurturing community experience … To hear stories told, sung and physicalized in English, French, Mi’kmaq and mime is how we build a stronger, welcoming, tolerant, safe and magical community. I can’t wait for next year!”
Now is the time organizers are inviting amateur (for-the-love-of-it) theatre groups to express interest and get working on a play. What’s wanted are short plays or excerpts—no more than a half-hour—of any kind: comedy, improv, gripping drama, mystery, slice-of-life, political satire, musical, romance, family-friendly or avant-garde/mature.
It can also be a fine opportunity for a group to preview or reprise a show they’ve developed for another presentation.
So let the creative juices flow. There’s plenty of time over the coming few months to get into performance mode. Mentoring guidance is available on request.
To get information and to express interest, contact Kim Johnston 902-569-8563, johnstonk @ hotmail.com; Kate Martin 902-892-4384, eslkatie1 @ gmail.com; or Rob Thomson 902-628-6778, robthomson @ pei.sympatico.ca.
A group should signify its intention to participate by December 15th; then definite confirmation is needed by January 31st.

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

AUDITION

New CBC Series

CASTING CALL FOR “CAVENDISH”
A new series created by Andrew Bush, Mark Little and Garry Campbell!
Synopsis: Cavendish is a half hour comedy about two bickering brothers returning to their hometown to
take care of their grumpy and ailing father, only to collide with the strange townsfolk and their even stranger
superstitions.
SEEKING THESE ROLES:
ROLLIE: MALE 50’s-60’s. Playing the father to Mark Little and Andrew Bush. SERIES LEAD!
RUTH: FEMALE 50’s-60’s. She is Rollie’s partner. SERIES LEAD!
MOLLY: FEMALE. Mid 30’s. She is a local farmer in Cavendish. SERIES LEAD!
BRYN: FEMALE. 16-18 years. She Ruth’s niece. SERIES LEAD!
MAYOR HELEN DRURY: FEMALE. 40’s. Is the Mayor of Cavendish. RECURRING!
OFFICER GIBBONS: MALE. 30’s-40’s. The ineffectual, de facto police chief of Cavendish. RECURRING!
FELIX: MALE. 30’s. He is Cavendish’s resident barfly. RECURRING!
DR. DALAL: MALE. 30’s-50’s. He is Rollie’s doctor. RECURRING!
***SEEKING TALENT WITH STRONG COMEDIC TIMING!***
DETAILS:
Production Company: Temple Street
Network(s): CBC
Created by: Andrew Bush, Mark Little and
Garry Campbell
Executive Producers: Ivan Schneeberg,
David Fortier, Kerry Appleyard, Andrew Bush,
Mark Little
Line Producer: Ginny Jones-Duzak
Director(s): Andrew Bush and other various
directors TBA
Writers: Andrew Bush, Mark Little
Outside Date(s): August 5 to September 26
Rate: ACTRA
Location: Filming in Nova Scotia and PEI
Want to audition? Please send in a video!!!!!
Please head to our website (www.larissamaircasting.com) for full character descriptions, and audition material!!!
Be sure to read instructions carefully!
***(If you have an agent, please allow them to submit you)***
You do not need permission to submit, please just send in your submission!
DEADLINE FOR SELF-TAPES: SATURDAY, JUNE 2nd, 2018 @ 6:00 PM EASTERN
SEND SELF-TAPES DIRECTLY TO: cavendishcasting@gmail.com
Any questions can be sent to cavendishcasting@gmail.com
You do not need to email for permission to submit!
All the material can be found under on our website: www.larissamaircasting.com
NO phone calls please!
“In accordance with CBC’s commitment to inclusion, it is a requirement that all submissions be reflective of
our country’s diversity; with a specific focus on Indigenous people, members of visible minorities, persons
with disabilities and gender balance.”

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

A theatrical project to consider …

Entertaining residents at a nursing home

We want to share theatre, right? That’s part of community theatre.
So here’s a chance to do that.

Phil Matusiewisc — a man who has a long record of public service, and incidentally has been the superb photographer for our Community Theatre Festival — is now acting as the Administrator of the Atlantic Baptist Home. He has put a request to us:
Could our theatrical community devise activities with which to visit the nursing home — particularly the ‘secure’ units where residents are mostly living with varying degrees of dementia.

• Such visits might be single-occasion, or on-going, with some degree of regularity (e.g. monthly, every second week). It would be during the daytime, I gather.
• Preliminary examples:
- dramatic reading of short stories and poems
- short play reading
- game-like theatrical exercises (e.g. changing facial expressions, motions to show emotions)
- simple action songs
- acting out some scenes
- doing a short rehearsal of a play you’re preparing

The nurse in charge of coordinating resident care tells us that persons with dementia — at least many of them, most of the time — will be able to appreciate such activities, even if it’s only liking the rhythm of a poem, or having a good memory associated with a song, or getting a kick out of movement. I suppose we would learn through trial and error what works best.

Have you got some ideas? Think you might want to give it a try to see how it goes?
Send me a note or give me a call to talk about this.
Rob Thomson - robthomson @ pei.sympatico.ca, 902-628-6778

A fine success!

PEI Community Theatre Festival 2018

Saturday afternoon, March 17th at the Carrefour: what a great Community Theatre Festival it was. It was enjoyed by the biggest audience we’ve ever had.
Seven amateur groups presented a dandy variety of pieces: an amusing mystery, a gripping drama in French, a belly-laugh spoof of CBC-Compass, young people doing improv theatre games, excerpts of a new PEI musical, a fascinating look at family dynamics around Alzheimer’s, and colourful creations of Mi’kmaq legends.
You can see the photos by clicking on ‘Gallery’ in the upper-right corner of the screen ... and scrolling down to click on ‘Community Theatre Festival 2018.’
45 actors made it happen … 45 actors and an audience of about 225 ... and the front-of-house volunteers ... and our sponsors and contributors: Academy of Learning, The Buzz, Bluefield Realty, the dental clinic on Belvedere Ave; Watermark Theatre, Spotlight School of Arts and the Victoria Playhouse;Sobeys, Superstore and Foodland.
Thanks to all for this fitting observance of World Theatre Day.

Tuesday, March 06, 2018

2018 Community Theatre Festival

Saturday afternoon, March 17th - 1:00 to 5:00 - at the CarrefourHere’s the 7-play line-up for this year’s Festival … What an afternoon of theatrical variety!

1:00 - The Murray Players - “Any Body for Tea”
A comedic melodrama: six ‘very-proper’ elderly spinsters find a novel way to lure an attractive homicide detective to visit them — a murder. A play within a play, there is an unexpected and subtle twist at the very end.

2:30 - The Tracadie Players - “News Mix at Six”
A spoof of the Island’s familiar broadcast, with some recognizable characters (?Bryce Roomey and Bloomer Grant?) + a celebrity sighting. What goes on behind the scenes at CBC-PEI … all en-Compassing!

3:10 - Spotlight School of Arts - “Improv Fun!”
Quick! spur-of-the-moment reactions to roles or suggestions as they are posed. Surprises and laughs … Let the games begin.

3:45 - ACT (a community theatre) - “Rainbow Valley” (scenes)
A sample of the romantic musical — adapted by Hank Stinson from the LM Montgomery novel — to be staged in November. A story of the new minister, his ‘wild as the hills’ children, and the people they meet in PEI’s north-shore community where the past rules the present. Are some life-gifts a blessing or a curse?

4:15 - The Malcolm Murray Readers - “Missing Mom” (scenes)
A staged reading by a quartet of leading Island actors — Kathleen Hamilton, Rob MacLean, Barbara Rhodenhizer and Noah Nazim. A man looks for his missing Mom, an Alzheimer patient, and instead finds an alternative missing Alzheimer Mom, whom he adopts. A policeman intervenes, with unexpected result. It’s a comedy, but it addresses the challenges of Alzheimer’s.

4:55 - Mi’kmaq Heritage Players “Mi’kmaq Legends”
A colourful finish: tales from the rich stock of Mi’kmaq culture, passed down from generation to generation, told with song and dance by the popular group which has given hundreds of performances here on Abegweit and away.

Drop in for a play or two or for the whole afternoon. Doors open at 12:30.
A bargain: pay-what-you-will admission … Refreshments, too!
Info: robthomson @ pei.sympatico.ca, 902-628-6778

Thursday, March 01, 2018

French-speaking actresses

3 women actors/actrices

Wanted: 3 French-speaking actresses
… to be in the 25-minute play “Ma meilleure amie, ma meilleure ennemie.”
Characters: two aged around 30-40, and the third around 60.
Rehearsals beginning immediately … in preparation for the PEI Community Theatre Festival on Saturday, March 17th.
Contact Nadine Salami - n.n.salami @ gmail.com

Friday, February 16, 2018

PEI Community Theatre Festival 2018

March 17 - an afternoon of good entertainment fun

PEI will mark the 57th celebration of World Theatre Day on the afternoon of Saturday, March 17th, at the Carrefour in Charlottetown. It’s the annual Community Theatre Festival.
A half a dozen short plays (30 minutes or less) will run every three-quarters of an hour or so throughout the afternoon. It’s a smorgasbord of comedy, charming drama, legend-telling and improv.
PEI is full of theatre. There are several dozen local drama groups, and literally hundreds of amateur actors and backstage workers who make plays happen. It’s an important part of the fabric of the Island’s community life. And the Community Theatre Festival is a great chance for participants to strut their stuff and get good feedback. Performers will be given constructive tips by adjudicator Laura K. Bird.
It’s great for the audience, too. People drop in for a particular play or two, or stay for the whole afternoon. It’s good-fun entertainment ... and it’s a bargain: pay-what-you-will admission to help defray the costs. There’s a social time with refreshments in-between performances.
This year’s Festival has a fine array of participants. For ever-reliable belly-laugh humour, the Tracadie Players’ skit will be “News at 6”, a spoof of the Island’s most-watched suppertime newscast. The Mi’kmaq Heritage Actors will present several new tellings of imaginative First-Nation legends handed down through the generations. There is a French-language play: Nadine Salami’s drama-comedy “Ma meilleure amie, ma meilleure ennemie.” In the suspenseful comedy “Any Body for Tea” the Murray Players have six ‘very proper’ spinsters employing an unorthodox lure to attract the attention of a handsome homicide detective. The young people of Spotlight School of Arts will provide the fun of theatre-game improv. We’ll also have a bonus: a staged reading from a new original script, “Missing Mom” by PEI playwright Malcolm Murray, featuring some of the Island’s best playwright-actors.
The annual event is backed by ACT (a community theatre) and sponsored by several community businesses which have a commitment to the arts, including The Buzz, Bluefield Realty, and Academy of Learning, as well as a well-known dental clinic. (Apparently they were not too offended last year by Tracadie’s lampoon “A Trip to the Dentist”!) As well, the Watermark Theatre, Victoria Playhouse and Spotlight School of Arts have all donated tickets to be raffled.
The Carrefour’s doors open at 12:30 on Saturday, March 17th; the plays begin at 1:00 and run till about 5:30. There’ll be a 15-minute break between plays to provide for adjudication and set-up of the next play ... and also to give the audience a chance to socialize, get raffle tickets and sample the refreshments. Snow date: Sunday 18 March.
For information: Rob Thomson - robthomson @ pei.sympatico.ca, 628-6778.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

RAINBOW VALLEY

New musical - needs producer(s)

Hank Stinson — the man who for decades has acted in and developed shows for the Charlottetown Festival — has created a musical adaptation of LM Montgomery’s Rainbow Valley. We think ACT will stage it at The Guild a year from now, in November 2018. ACT has been directly involved as the show developed, in sort-of ‘testing’ and refining the script. We know it’s a really good musical.
The music setting is by Dean Burry, and the orchestration is being done by Natalie Williams-Calhoun.
Hank himself will be the Director. Marti Hopson will be Music Director. Sharon MacDonald will be Stage Manager. What a team!

What we need now, in order to complete the proposal and get the go-ahead, is a producer.

The producer is the co-ordinator of a theatre piece, the person who oversees the organization and manages the finances. It can be a big job, but we have three ways of making it easier, even for someone with little experience.
• We hope to have an assistant or co-producer, to share the responsibilities.
• ACT has a comprehensive ‘Producer’s Handbook’ which gives detailed guidance about what the tasks are and how to do them.
• An experienced producer (Rob Thomson) has volunteered to provide active mentorship.

So this is the pitch: can you suggest to us anyone who might be a good prospect as a producer? … or would you be interested yourself?

We’d be happy to talk about it — no strings attached — with anyone who would like to investigate the idea.
This is a very good project, and we want to make it happen.

Thursday, October 19, 2017

Plays Wanted!

Time to think about the Community Theatre Festival 2018

Prince Edward Island’s annual celebration of World Theatre Day is the PEI Community Theatre Festival, which will again be held in March, on Saturday the 17th.
It will be at the Carrefour in Charlottetown, filling the Saturday afternoon with a play running every ¾ of an hour or so, with a social time in-between performances. Refreshments will be provided to the players. Performers will be given helpful adjudication; previous mentors have been helpful people like Wade Lynch, Monique Lafontaine, Richard Haines and Laura Bird. Participants will be presented with participation award mementoes.
The Community Theatre Festival is a showcase for true community theatre—a great chance for scores of actors and off-stage production volunteers to perform beyond their usual home audience, to rub shoulders with and learn from one another and get constructive feedback.
The Festival has grown in popularity since its resurgence in 2010. Last year the audience tended to drop in to watch two or three of the six performances—a fine mix of slapstick, intense drama, legend, classic satire, even some improv. Photos can be seen on ACT’s website — www.actpei.ca … click on “Gallery” (upper-right corner) and scroll down to click on the “Community Theatre Festival” sections.
Here’s what Adjudicator Wade Lynch has said about the Festival:
“The PEI Community Theatre Festival reminds me of why I went into theatre in the first place. It is an inclusive, nurturing community experience … To hear stories told, sung and physicalized in English, French, Mi’kmaq and mime is how we build a stronger, welcoming, tolerant, safe and magical community. I can’t wait for next year!”
Now is the time organizers are inviting amateur (for-the-love-of-it) theatre groups to express interest and get working on a play. What’s wanted are short plays or excerpts—no more than a half-hour—of any kind: comedy, quasi-improv, gripping drama, mystery, slice-of-life, political satire, romance, family-friendly or avant-garde/mature.
It can also be a fine opportunity for a group to preview or reprise a show they’ve developed for another presentation.
So let the creative juices flow. There’s plenty of time over the coming few months to get into performance mode. Mentoring guidance is available on request.
To get information and to express interest, contact Kim Johnston 902-569-8563, johnstonk @ hotmail.com; Kate Martin 902-892-4384, eslkatie1 @ gmail.com; or Rob Thomson 902-628-6778, robthomson @ pei.sympatico.ca.
A group should signify its intention to participate by December 15th; then definite confirmation is needed by January 31st.

Tuesday, September 05, 2017

Audition Call for Family Violence Prevention Videos

Want to have a role in a unique-in-Canada video series aimed to help recognize signs of family violence in everyday settings – and to take action to safely intervene?

This comes from Charlottetown’s Purple Ribbon Task Force ...
Mugisha Enterprises, in collaboration with the City of Charlottetown’s Mayor’s Purple Ribbon Task Force on Family Violence Prevention, will be holding auditions on Sunday, September 17, and Monday, September 18, 2017, to fill the roles listed below in a workplace training and public education video — entitled “Make It Your Business” — that will emphasize small, straightforward actions people can take in everyday life to notice and to help when they see signs of possible family violence.To book an audition time, please email lindsay@fvps.ca.
Auditions will take place at the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women office (Sherwood Business Centre, 161 St. Peters Road, see directions below*).
Scripts will be provided on the day.
All ethnicities, genders, ages, and abilities are encouraged to book an audition.
Parts for Men (9 roles)
• 1 man, any background, 65+
• 1 man, Asian or Middle Eastern, middle-aged
• 1 man, any background, “hipster” look
• 1 man, white-presenting, expensive-looking hair, 40s
• 1 man, brown or Black, 20s
• 1 man, white-presenting, professional look, any age
• 1 man, edgy/alternative/punk look, teens to early 20s
• 1 man, white-presenting, over 65 (preference for 75+)
• 1 man, Indigenous, 40s
Parts for Women (9 roles)
• 1 woman, hijab-wearing, brown, any age
• 1 woman, white-presenting, 20-45
• 1 woman, white-presenting, “soccer mom” type, 40s
• 1 woman, white-presenting, expensive-looking hair, 40s
• 1 woman, Indigenous, any age
• 1 woman, any background, 65+
• 1 woman, white-presenting, mid-20s
• 1 woman, Asian or Latina, 30s
• 1 woman, any background, any age
Parts for Either Gender (2 roles)
• 1 person, any background, natural non-English/non-French accent, 30s
• 1 person who uses a wheelchair, any age
Parts for Non-Binary (1 role)
• 1 non-binary person, 20s
Extras, diverse backgrounds and ages

* Directions: Please enter the Sherwood Business Centre (Ellis Brothers) through the Public Health door at the back of the building. The Advisory Council on the Status of Women office is down the ramp, past the café, and on the right just beyond a big orange fridge that says “Cool Books for Kids.”

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

FIGHTING WORDS!

Stage Combat Workshop Being Offered in June

We know what you’re thinking. And, yes, this is going to be as cool as it sounds.

ACT (a community theatre), in partnership with Phil Stewart from the PEI Fencing Association, will be offering a two-day stage combat workshop Father’s Day weekend, Saturday, June 17th and Sunday, June 18th.
The workshop is for beginners and up, so no previous experience is required and equipment will be provided.
Stewart, who is an experienced fencing coach and stage combat director, will be demonstrating basic footwork, attacks, and defence. He will be using a mixture of old school sword play and modern fencing techniques.
The workshop will take place over two afternoons, June 17-18, 2017, from 1 pm to 6 pm, at the Kirk of St. James, on the corner of Fitzroy and Pownal streets in downtown Charlottetown (35 Fitzroy Street). Space is very limited but a waiting list will be created. To register, or for more details, email johnstonk @ hotmail.com or call Kim at 902 569 8563. Price for this two-day workshop is $45 for ACT members and $55 for non-ACT members.

Wednesday, April 05, 2017

Job Opportunity at Victoria Playhouse

Theatre Carpenter/Stage Hand wanted

Start date: late May/early June
40 hours/wk: variable hours must be available weekends and evenings
This is a full-time seasonal position that offers the right individual an opportunity to work in a creative environment as part of a dynamic team. You will be working with the head scenic carpenter/stage technician.
Duties include, but are not limited to: building/painting sets; installing and striking sets on stage; backstage technical/maintenance work as assigned
Skills needed: Basic carpentry and painting — previous experience using power tools and working on ladders; ability to work independently as well as being a team player
Must have own transportation
Salary negotiable based on qualifications
Please submit applications to emily@victoriaplayhouse.com
Deadline for applications is April 13.
The Victoria Playhouse thanks all interested candidates but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Saturday, March 04, 2017

PLAY READING - March 12

RAINBOW VALLEY - Sunday, 12 March, 7:00 pm

ACT and Hank Stinson are hosting a reading of Hank’s new musical play Rainbow Valley at the Stinsons’ home - 14 Confederation Street (across from Ardgowan, the Parks Canada HQ) on Sunday evening, March 12th.
Hank Stinson is the well-known actor who for years and years played several parts, including Matthew, in Anne of Green Gables - the Musical … as well as many other roles in various Charlottetown Festival productions. He has been co-creator of several of the Main Stage music shows, and over the years has authored a number of plays. He created one of ACT’s most delightful musical shows: The Blue Castle, based on the L.M. Montgomery novel.
Now he has written (with composer Dean Burry) a musical derived from another LMM novel, Rainbow Valley. Chronologically it was the seventh book in the series about Anne of GG. Anne has been married to Gilbert for 15 years; they have six children. However, the story is mainly about the family of the new neighbour, the widower-clergyman John Meredith … and there is a thread of love and marriage.
Hank has connected with ACT to have a reading of the play, to hear how it sounds, with a view to possible adjustment and subsequent production. We’ll be joining Hank himself and two of his well-known Festival colleagues, Charlotte Moore and Julain Molnar.

Want to take part in the reading? Tell Noah Nazim, so that we’ll have an idea about numbers. (902) 213-3798, noahnazim @ gmail.com.

Sunday, February 12, 2017

“The Producers”

Workshop about producing a show - March 26

The Producers: Presentations and A Panel Discussion for People Interested in Spear-heading Community Theatre Shows
When you watch a play, what you are seeing is a very small fraction of what is involved in mounting a show. There are people who manage and organize a team that involves directors, stage managers, costumers, set designers, prop makers and publicity people, to name a few.
These fearless leaders and logistical virtuosos are: The Producers.
ACT (a community theatre), in partnership with Holland College School of Performing Arts (SOPA), will present a workshop that brings together four ACT producers (who together have produced over 30 plays) to provide information and insight about the challenging yet critical role of producer in community theatre productions.
The goal of the workshop is to leave participants feeling informed about the role of a producer and perhaps feel inspired to mount their own shows.
Areas that will be touched on include: What is, and who should be, a producer?; Team building and the life of a show; Publicity, budget and ticketing; Considerations for front of house, managing a venue, the audition process, visual aspects of production, and props.
This workshop will take place March 26th at the Confederation Centre boardroom (just off the Richmond Street entrance) between 1 pm and 5 pm. This workshop is free for ACT members and SOPA students, but there may be a small charge for other participants to help defray costs.
For more information, email Kimberley Johnston - johnstonk @ hotmail.com